Feature: The NFL early winners and losers

With three round of the National Football League now complete, Niall McCoy looks who has caught the eye – for varying reasons – in the four divisions

DIVISION ONE

RIDING HIGH – DONEGAL

A SIMPLE one to start – Dublin, Kerry and Armagh is close to as tough of an opening spell as you could ask for but Jim McGuinness and his players sit on six points.

Even with the new rules, they’re still playing his preferred defensive style and breaking with numbers at pace and, hey, it’s been ultra-effective.

With some notable returnees, not least a certain Michael Murphy, Donegal can make a solid claim to having the best squad in the country.

Probably one win away from a league final and Derry last year may serve as a lesson, but the Tir Chonaill panel is a whole lot deeper than their Oakleaf counterparts.

A league final will come a week before Ulster though, so interesting to see how they approach the rest of the league.

SLOW START – MAYO

TAKE your pick really with four teams winning just once in their opening three games and Derry yet to record their first win.

We’re missing out the Oakleafers because they really should have beaten Kerry and were very impressive in fighting back against Galway.

Armagh aren’t flying just yet, but they have a serious injury list while Tyrone have blown hot and cold and could have been our pick too. Kerry, likewise, could be on zero points but they have played some patches of good football.

Mayo though have just been underwhelming with a bit of dissent growing in the county.

In one way, given all their high-profile losses, it’s to be expected but the meekness against Galway was hard to stomach for their fans.

Good response last weekend against Tyrone, and will travel to Armagh with renewed confidence.

DIVISION TWO

RIDING HIGH – ROSCOMMON

ROSCOMMON are too good for this division, that much is perfectly clear.

When you can field a forward line with the likes of the Murtagh brothers, Daire Cregg and the Smiths, then you really should be plying your trade at the top table.

That’s starting to look inevitable with three wins from three and in Monaghan, they’ve come out on top of what could be their hardest challenge on paper.

Ulster influence in coach Mark Doran, although no doubt he had mixed emotions after their round one win over his native county.

SLOW START – LOUTH

NO need to panic just yet for Ger Brennan, James McCartan et al, but Louth’s charge for Division One football hasn’t materialised, yet anyway.

Under Mickey Harte, before his controversial exit to Derry, and Brennan, the Wee County have made massive strides and are essentially the only side willing to give Dublin at least a game in Leinster.

After a pretty unconvincing win over Westmeath on their first outing, the side have lost back-to-back games against Roscommon and Cavan – the latter definitely would have been viewed as a very winnable fixture.

They’ve been their own worst enemy at times too with goalkeeper Niall McDonnell making two late errors to gift Cavan the points, although he did make a penalty save in the first half.

Home to Down next, and that’s a huge one.

DIVISION THREE

RIDING HIGH – OFFALY

KILDARE may be top, and look rejuvenated under Brian Flanagan and Aidan O’Rourke, but there’s one story in the third tier and that’s Offaly.

Mickey Harte and Declan Kelly’s side have won three from three now and having been widely tipped as relegation fodder, they are now in a serious promotion race.

Harte’s influence is clear, the Faithful fans are getting something to shout about and Fermanagh need to be wary against them this weekend.

Win that and Croke Park comes into view.

SLOW START – SLIGO

YES, Leitrim are completely out of their depth in this division as a scoring difference of -59 after three games demonstrates, but they have reportedly lost a scarcely believable 20 players from last year’s panel so realism has to come into play.

The biggest surprise is that Tony McEntee’s Sligo sit alongside them on zero points.

The Crossmaglen man has gotten a tune out of them in previous years and they were expected to push for promotion, but barring an incredible turnaround in form, it’s relegation they might end up having to worry about.

Clare head to Markievicz Park this weekend and it’s not an easy place to go. Win that and then they can start looking upwards.

DIVISION FOUR

RIDING HIGH – WEXFORD

WEXFORD hold a 100 per cent record at this stage of the league so it’s a case of so far, so good for the Model County.

They have home advantage next, against Oisín McConville’s Wicklow, and that will be a real opportunity
to hammer home their title credentials.

Their win over Carlow at the weekend was a bit of a farce with Seán ‘Mini’ Ryan’s two goals proving near impossible to see on the RTÉ highlights such was the fog.

SLOW START – WATERFORD

YES, Waterford tend to struggle in the league so it’s no major surprise that they are rock bottom, but they really don’t seem to build on their bright spots in the championship.

Last season that included a fine Munster SFC win over Tipperary while they also hit a massive 4-12 in their Tailteann Cup win over Longford, but they have been
unable to spark anything this
season.

Hit 1-19 in a losing effort to Wicklow, so some scoring prowess there – but they need much more of that.